Day 23 11/8/16
52miles (Larmor Plage to Pontivy) Average speed 11 mph Top speed 26.3 mph
Camp €4.90 (cheapest yet)
What a brilliant day. Started off at 9 without a toothbrush as I’d used it to clean chain yesterday and shops were shut last night, but picked one up in a hypermarché and brushed my teeth on the side of the main road in rush hour, I was getting some strange looks! Revisited stadium for new photos and nearly lost Brian again!
Lorient FC ticket office
Lorient FC stand
Lorient FC, Day 23, second chance photos. And nice clean teeth
Sorted out a new SIM card at McDonald’s free wifi.
Then went on straight road to Hennebont. Stopped at a bike shop for pump and met a lovely couple, Declan and Eileen, from Cork. They showed me to start of river path and I had a coffee and a great chat. They insisted on paying the grumpy waitress.
Celebrating 1000 miles
Went on to river path to Pontivy and celebrated 1000 miles with a bottle of Kronenberg and a great lunch.
Then I met and cycled with Jean for most of the route. We had a chat of pidgin English and French! Had a bike malfunction due to poor quality of path when pannier locking nut came off but I found it and repaired it in no time, but stopping made me realise just how hot it was.
Nearly crashed into an old lady who was with her grandson and was more concerned what he was doing. It was one of those funny moments like on a pavement and one person steps to the left and the other matches their step. It was very funny and we were both laughing.
Made it to campsite after another lovely lady in tourist office supplied me with maps and camping details in St Nicholas. You may be wondering why I’m heading North? Well I didn’t want to retrace my steps along the coast so I’m here to take the velo route 1 all the way to Nantes. Just had dinner of sardine and veg pasta with beers cooled in the stream.
Sardine pasta
Lovely, next to a footy pitch with the local team training.
While eating, another person, Alain and his grandson Matisse, came over to admire stove. Then we got chatting about the route and he gave some good advice about camping for €3 and loads of info. Trying to get wood burner going to get some charge into iPad as I won’t be leaving that on charge anywhere! Another fantastic day. It’s turning out to be the people you meet that make this trip so good. Sat here now listening to radio playing what I think is the folk music from Lorient festival
Ermintrude : Tourist offices seem to be THE place to meet lovely young ladies!